M.S. Textiles, Fashion Merchandising, and Design
Overview
The Master of Science in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising, and Design (TMD) prepares you to lead in a rapidly evolving global industry where sustainability, innovation, technology, culture, and history intersect.
Join a dynamic community of scholars, educators, and industry professionals and earn an advanced credential designed to position you at the forefront of textile and fashion transformation. Through rigorous coursework, hands-on research training, and experiential learning, the TMD graduate program equips you with both practical expertise and analytical depth. Choose between one of three specialized tracks:
- Fashion Merchandising
- Textile Science
- Historic Fashion and Textiles, Textile Conservation, and Cultural Analysis
Our curriculum blends theory with practice—empowering you to develop advanced research skills, strengthen problem-solving capabilities, and confidently navigate the intersection of business, science, and culture. Whether your goal is industry leadership, technical specialization, museum and conservation leadership, sustainability consulting, research advancement, or preparation for doctoral study, the TMD MS positions you for long-term career growth and offers the expertise needed to make a meaningful impact. Your next level starts here.
The Department of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design is endorsed by the American Apparel and Footwear Association.
Specializations
Fashion Merchandising
Integrated within the College of Business, this specialization prepares you to lead with strategic, data-driven insight while addressing sustainability and consumer well-being in the global apparel industry. It centers on the business of fashion, offering advanced study in retailing, merchandising, marketing, consumer behavior, forecasting, and management. Industry partnerships, New York City experiences, and study abroad opportunities enhance real-world exposure and professional networking.
Textile Science
This specialization offers hands-on learning experience using the most modern equipment for filament production from waste, 3D polyjet printer that can print on fabrics, and a moisture measurement tester that evaluates and classifies liquid management properties of fabrics. We also offer dyeing and finishing, color science, and quality control of textiles. Possibilities exist for cooperation with the College of Engineering. Together, we can design, produce, and test your own smart textile!
Historic Fashion and Textiles, Textile Conservation, and Cultural Analysis
In this specialization you will develop curatorial, conservation, and research skills under the guidance of nationally known experts. Internships in museums, historical societies, and textile conservation labs are integral to this specialization. The department’s Historic Textile and Costume Collection of some 20,000 items, one of the best university collections in the country, is an outstanding resource for students. URI’s Library also houses a Commercial Pattern Archive of more than 40,000 paper patterns. Explore the Textiles Collection